A routine crab run aboard the F/V Wizard turned into a life-or-death emergency early yesterday morning when smoke began pouring from the bow of the vessel, leading to a frantic rescue of a crew member trapped below deck.
The Wizard, captained by the seasoned and battle-tested Keith Colburn, was 25 miles north on a promising crabbing route. Conditions were favorable, with bottom temperatures reading a lucrative 46.1°F — the sweet spot for Bering Sea red king crab. Spirits were high as Captain Keith and his crew worked efficiently to scout ahead of a migrating school of crab, using temperature sensors valued at $6,000 per pot to plot their next move.
But the optimism was short-lived.
Just as the crew was navigating a tangled mess of poly line from an unidentified rogue pot drifting near their haul zone, a crew member suddenly shouted over the radio:
“Smoke in the bow! Smoke in the bow!”
Panic erupted on deck.
Four deckhands were already in the water recovering gear when the alarm sounded. Meanwhile, Tyler, a crew member and son of Captain Keith’s lifelong friend, was trapped below deck preparing a buoy. His screams could be heard as flames and smoke closed in. “We could hear him yelling from down there,” one crewmember said, “but none of us could get to him safely.”
Quick-thinking crew members deployed the crane and prepared to rip open the lower hatch. With seconds to spare, Tyler was pulled from the smoke-filled compartment using a sling and winch system. He was semi-conscious but alive.
“He was just going down to grab a trailer line. Next thing you know, we’re yanking him out of a fire,” said one shaken deckhand. “Cap hit the CO₂ system to put the fire out — but that also means we can’t go back down for a while. It’s just too dangerous.”
Though the fire’s cause remains under investigation, the fast use of the onboard CO₂ suppression system likely prevented further damage to the vessel and saved lives.
A visibly emotional Captain Keith later addressed the crew:
“I just about lost my best friend’s son today.”
Tyler is recovering inside the vessel’s cabin and is expected to be okay. The crew is conducting a full headcount and gear inspection as they await clearance to re-enter the affected area.
Despite the near-tragedy, Captain Keith is determined to push forward. “We’ve got the right temperatures. The crab are here. But we’re not risking lives. Not for this,” he said.
